Five suspected Maoists, including three women, were killed in a gunfight with the police in the jungle near Kopri, located in the Bhamragarh tehsil of south Gadchiroli, bordering Chhattisgarh. The operation was conducted ahead of the November 20 assembly elections. The gunfight occurred after a joint team of the CRPF and C-60 commandos came under attack from the Maoists near their camp. The battle lasted for over three hours, resulting in the death of five suspected Maoists and injuries to one policeman.
The extremists of the banned CPI (Maoist) had gathered in the forest along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border in preparation for an attack during the upcoming elections. The gunfight took place in the forested area of Kopri, bordering the Abujmarh area of Chhattisgarh. Anti-Maoist police teams are actively involved in the operation to locate other suspected Maoists.
The gunfight came a day after the surrender of a Maoist couple who had a reward of ₹8 lakh for information leading to their arrest. The couple, identified as Asin Rajaram Kumar (37) and his wife Anju Sulya Jale (28), surrendered to Gadchiroli police and CRPF officials. Asin Rajaram Kumar was a member of the Maoists’ press team in Odisha, while Jale was also part of the same press team in the eastern state. They had been living under false identities in Himachal Pradesh before surrendering.
In a similar incident on September 3, nine Maoists were killed during a gunfight with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division. The recent encounter in Gadchiroli highlights the ongoing battle between security forces and Maoist insurgents in central India.
The operation in south Gadchiroli is a part of the government’s efforts to combat left-wing extremism and maintain law and order in the region. Security forces have been conducting regular operations to flush out Maoist elements and prevent any untoward incidents during the upcoming elections.
The successful operation in Gadchiroli is a testament to the bravery and dedication of the security personnel involved in combating insurgency in the region. The sacrifice of the five suspected Maoists and the injuries sustained by the policeman serve as a reminder of the risks faced by security forces in maintaining peace and security in conflict-prone areas.
As the November 20 assembly elections draw near, security forces remain on high alert to prevent any disruptions by Maoist groups. The recent encounters and surrenders indicate a significant blow to the Maoist network in central India, but the threat of insurgency persists, requiring continued vigilance and proactive measures by the authorities.
